Keep calm and...

[ukatheist]

Bummer, since she is technically not on labor yet, they sent me packing. I will be summoned when labor starts so I am home and unable to sleep. Hospital policy and all that.

And that's that's the difference between for profit health care and a national system. Hospitals need you to come back for your next kid's birth instead of going to the one across town. So even though they have rules about visiting hours and such, those rules can and do get broken without fuss when you're the one paying the bill. Don't get me wrong, a for profit health care system is not something I would wish on anybody. But being the customer does have its advantages now and again. Both of my parents were in and out of hospitals constantly during their last 10 years before shaking off this mortal coil. And while my siblings and I made every effort to adhere to visiting hours rules, we were never once denied access when arriving after hours nor asked to leave when staying past limits. Once, when my mother was in a critical care unit after a heart attack and open heart surgery, my brother stayed with her in her room for 24 hours. No one said anything other than 'what can I get you sir?' Being a customer as opposed to a taxpayer has its advantages sometimes I guess.

Think it probably varies from hospital to hospital. I had both mine in an nhs hospital, hubby was allowed with me the whole time. First time admitted about 6am, finally delivered 10.30 pm, second time had to be induced, admitted 12pm, delivered 8.30pm (though hubby voluntarily went home to feed the cats and missed the main event).